For many years, hydraulic excavators were mostly dirt-digging machines. Over time, however, a huge number of attachments have been developed that have exponentially expanded the capabilities of the excavator. These attachments, which include items such as breakers, shears, thumbs, brush-cutters, augers and compactors, all require the installation of one or more additional (or auxiliary), hydraulic circuits that must be integrated into the existing hydraulic system.
In the early days, the owner of such an attachment would have to use his own ingenuity to obtain this auxiliary capability. It was not unusual to see draped hoses tied up with wire, or even Schedule 80 threaded pipe, to supply the attachment. Leaking fluid and frequent downtime were commonplace, and perhaps even expected. Safety was sometimes sacrificed for expediency.
Today, such methods are not acceptable. Safety and environmental concerns are paramount. Leaks and failures that were once viewed as unavoidable annoyances are now viewed as serious events with consequences.
HydrauliCircuit Technology (HCT) has become a leading provider of aftermarket hydraulic kits, engineered to withstand the job site challenges that come with attachment operations. Whatever the nature of the job, whether construction, quarry or demolition-related, the auxiliary circuits are subjected to stresses more extreme than any other on an excavator. The high flows, high pressures, fast cycle times, pulsation and external shock are factors that must be considered in the circuit design phase.
The experienced design engineers at HydrauliCircuit Technology have continuously upgraded hydraulic components in their kits for many years, as new and better technology became available. One highly visible example of this philosophy is the use of an extremely heavy-duty tubing and clamp system that reduces potential leak points, and provides the most durable circuit available, exceeding, in most cases, the strength of existing machine components, according to the manufacturer. HCT tube-hose connections include industry-standard SAE-approved O-ring Face Seal (ORFS), and Code 62 4-bolt flange connections. Tubing is custom-fabricated and bent for each excavator model. Tube ends are Pulse-MIG welded for superior strength. A wide array of custom-designed forged steel tube clamps ensure that the tubes will not move under severe stress. Components are protected with UV-resistant powder-coating to withstand harsh environments.
Navin Baliga, president of HCT, pointed out that some kit manufacturers use thin-walled flared/ferrule connections.
“This might be suitable for industrial applications, but not for use on an excavator,” Baliga stated. “With the demanding applications placed on excavators, especially in the demolition industry with the use of second and third-member shears, keeping the integrity of all the hydraulic connections is key for any machine owner. Designing a long tube with multiple sections might enable other manufacturers to pull generic pieces from stock, and to ship quickly. Unfortunately, this practice greatly increases the number of leak points and the resulting connections are disliked by some service technicians. HydrauliCircuit Technology eliminates potential leak points by connecting the tube ends directly to the hose assembly and do not require a male-to-male union connector to achieve this.”
Bobby Hudson, national sales manager of HCT, added, “HCT components may take a day longer to build, and may cost more to ship overnight, but in the long run, customers benefit from the value in a product that is designed and built to operate safely and to last for years.”
Customers, such as Phil Spiers, service manager at JESCO, a multi-state Deere dealer in the northeast, agree that HCT’s components are the way to go.
“We rely only on HydrauliCircuit Technology for our hydraulic kits,” Spiers said. “They are custom built for our application and easy to install. Their tech support department is knowledgeable and always ready to support our service department.”
William Neely, Cowin Equipment Company Inc., also is an HCT client.
“We rely on HydrauliCircuit Technology as one of our supply sources for hydraulic kits on excavators and tractor loader backhoes. The quality of the components, and the heavy-duty design of their hydraulic kits provides us with just one of the competitive edges that’s needed in today’s economic climate,” said Neely.
Texas-based RB Everett Company is another company that has relied on HydrauliCircuit Technology for years.
Dean Henderson, company vice president, said “We like doing business with them. We like the fact that they understand our commitment to quality and customer service. The heavy-duty components used in their kits sets them apart from their competition. We service a demanding industry and customizing and adapting to the needs of our customers is a key to our success. HCT understands our industry and has worked with us on meeting this challenge head-on.”
HydrauliCircuit Technology has been producing auxiliary hydraulic kits for more than 15 years, with manufacturing and installation facilities near Atlanta. HCT’s kits are preferred by end-users, dealers and OEMs across North America. All kits include comprehensive, easy-to-follow instruction manuals that contain detailed information with drawings, photos, proper tightening and routing techniques and safety information.
For more information, call 888/603-0080, or visit www.hctkits.com.
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